Paul Sterbcow is the managing member of Lewis, Kullman, Sterbcow & Abramson, LLC. Paul obtained a B.S. from Tulane University and a J.D. from Tulane University School of Law. Paul is licensed to practice in all Louisiana state and federal courts, along with the United States Supreme Court.

Paul’s primary practice area is admiralty and maritime law, an area in which he has been recognized as one of the best practitioners in the country. Paul was selected as a member of the Plaintiff’s Steering Committee for MDL 2179/Deepwater Horizon Litigation and served as the co-lead lawyer for the liability trial. Paul was also selected as Plaintiff’s Co-liaison Counsel in the Seacor Power sinking. He has authored numerous papers and given numerous speeches and presentations on assorted topics involving maritime law and civil trial practice.

Paul has received numerous awards and accolades, including being awarded Maritime Lawyer of the Year by the New Orleans Bar Association in 2018. Paul is a fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers and the International Academy of Trial Lawyers, as well as a member of the ABA, FBA, MLA, AAJ and several other legal organizations. Paul has also served as the President of the Louisiana Association for Justice and on the Board of Directors for the New Orleans Bar Association.

  • Professional Associations and Memberships

    • Fellow, The International Academy of Trial Lawyers, 2015
    • Fellow, American College of Trial Lawyers, 2014
    • New Orleans Bar Association
      • Board of Directors, 2012-2017
      • Treasurer, 2015-2017
      • Chair International and Maritime Law Committee, 2013-2014
    • Louisiana State Bar Association
    • American Bar Association
      • Bar Fellow, 2013-Present
    • Federal Bar Association
      • Board of Directors New Orleans Chapter, 2014-2019
      • Chapter Civics Liaison, 2016-2019
    • American Association for Justice
      • Board of Governors, 2019 – present
      • Member, Admiralty and Railroad Law Sections
      • Admiralty Law Section Executive Committee, 1999-present
      • Admiralty Law Section Chair, 2001
      • AAJ PAC Member – Eagle Level
    • Louisiana Association for Justice
      • Member, Admiralty and Professional Negligence Sections
      • President – 2018-2019
      • President- Elect 2017-2018
      • Executive Committee 2012-present
      • Council of Directors 2011
      • Admiralty Section Chair 2001-2002, 2016-2017
      • Board of Governors 1997, 2002-2010
      • Advisory Board 1996
    • Maritime Law Association
    • Southeastern Admiralty Law Institute
  • Presentations and Publications

    LECTURES

    • Tulane University Law School Maritime Seminar Advisory Committee and Speaker, 1995 – 2004
    • Louisiana Association for Justice Speaker, 1996, 2001, 2006, 2007-2010, 2012-2016
    • Federal Bar Association, New Orleans Chapter Speaker, 2014
    • Louisiana, Texas, Mississippi and Florida Trial Lawyers Associations Admiralty Law Seminar Program Chair and Speaker, 1999
    • American Association for Justice Admiralty Section, Speaker, 1999 and 2001
    • Louisiana State Bar Association Speaker 2000, 2014, 2016, 2017
    • Journal of Maritime Law and Commerce Admiralty Symposium Speaker 2002
    • Greater New Orleans Barge Fleeting Association Speaker 2003, 2013
    • Paul M. Hebert Law Center Louisiana State University Speaker 2005
    • Bar Association of the Fifth Federal Circuit Loyola University New Orleans School of Law American College of Trial Lawyers Speaker 2015
    • Alabama Trial Lawyers Association Speaker 2006
    • New Orleans Bar Association Speaker 2007 to 2017
    • National Business Institute Speaker 2008
    • Maritime Law Association Speaker, 2010
    • The National Transportation Safety Board Bar Association Speaker, 2011
    • American Conference Institute Speaker, 2012

    SPEECHES AND PUBLICATIONS

    • Use of Experts
      LSBA Trial Practice Seminar, December 2017, New Orleans Louisiana
    • How to Get the Most Out of Your Exhibits
      LSBA Trial Practice Seminar, December 2016, New Orleans, Louisiana
    • Punitive Damages in General Maritime Law – Panel Discussion
      Loyola Law School, November 2016, New Orleans, Louisiana
    • Deepwater Horizon Litigation: Civil, Criminal and Administrative Issues
      New Orleans Bar Association, October 2016, New Orleans, Louisiana
    • Maintenance and Cure – When Will They Learn
      High Stakes on the High Seas Maritime Law Conference
      Louisiana Association for Justice, August 2016, New Orleans, Louisiana
    • How to Take a Deposition
      Summer School for Lawyers, June 2016
      Louisiana State Bar Association 75th Annual Meeting, Destin, Florida
    • In Rem: In Vogue Again?
      High Stakes on the High Seas – A Maritime Law Conference, August 2015
      Louisiana Association for Justice
      New Orleans, Louisiana
    • Litigating a Maritime Disaster – How Do You Get It Done?
      Admiralty Law Institute, March 2015
      Lavin-Bernick Center, Tulane University Campus, New Orleans, Louisiana
    • Maritime Law: Punitive Damages in the U.S. Fifth Circuit
      New Orleans Bar Association, 2014 Procrastinators’ Program, New Orleans, Louisiana
    • BP Settlement
      Loyola Law School
      Personal Injury and Death Class, November 2014, New Orleans, Louisiana
    • Causation Under OPA
      High Stakes on the High Seas, August 2014
      Louisiana Association for Justice, New Orleans, Louisiana
    • McBride v. Eustis: The Past, Present, and Future of Punitive Damages
      FBA Admiralty Law and Federal Litigation Sections, July 2014, New Orleans, Louisiana
    • Maintenance and Cure – A Practical Application
      7th Annual Offshore Marine Service Association/Loyola College of Law Industry Seminar, November 2013
      New Orleans, Louisiana
    • Update on the BP Oil Spill Settlement
      New Orleans Bar Association, November 2013, New Orleans, Louisiana
    • Maritime Law Developments and Update
      2013 Maritime Seminar
      Judge Richard T. Haik, Sr.’s Camp, Lafayette, Louisiana
    • Lessons from the Oil Spill Trial
      High Stakes on the High Seas Maritime Law Conference
      Louisiana Association for Justice, August 2013, New Orleans, Louisiana
    • Organizing the Complex Case – Discovery and Motion Practice
      Strengthening our Profession. June 2013
      Combined LSBA Annual Meeting and LSBA/LJC Summer School, Destin, Florida
    • Professionalism and Ethics in the Handling of the Personal Injury Litigation Matter – From Start to Settlement or Judgment
      2013 GNOBFA Seminar, New Orleans, Louisiana
    • BP Settlement – What It Means
      High Stakes on the High Seas: A Maritime Law Conference, August 2012
      Louisiana Association for Justice New Orleans, Louisiana
    • View From the Plaintiffs’ Bar: Perspectives on Personal Injury Claims Trends, Settlement and ADR, Damages, and More
      American Conference Institute’s National Forum on Defending and Managing
      Admiralty & Maritime Litigation, Houston, Texas, March 29, 2012
    • Jury Selection
      Masters of the Courtroom
      New Orleans Bar Association, December 14, 2011, New Orleans, LA
    • Offshore Aviation Accidents – Admiralty Meets Aviation
      Blue Angels Air and Transportation Law Conference
      NTSB Bar Association, November 10, 2011, Pensacola Beach, FL
    • OCSLA – Jurisdiction Issues in The Wake of BP
      9th Judge Alvin B. Rubin Conference On Maritime Personal Injury Law
      May 13, 2011, LSU Law Center, Baton Rouge, LA
    • Personal Injury, Wrongful Death & Property Damage Investigation Coordination
      Admiralty Law Institute Tulane University, March 23-25, 2011 McAlister Auditorium
    • Deepwater Horizon Disaster Maritime Remedies Revisited
      Gulf Coast Oil Spill Litigation
      Teleseminar, June 2, 2010
    • Maritime Jurisdiction – In the Air and on the Edges
      Louisiana Association for Justice
      Windsor Court Hotel, New Orleans, LA, August 14, 2009
    • Cain v. Transocean Offshore USA, Inc.
      19th Annual CLE by the Hour
      Tulane Law School, December 30, 2008
    • Cain v. Transocean Offshore USA, Inc.
      New Orleans Bar Association Lunch time Seminar
      Lemle Kelleher, LLP, September 23, 2008
    • Seaman Injury Claims
      National Business Institute
      W New Orleans Hotel, August 27, 2008
    • Choice of Law/Choice of Forum
      National Business Institute
      W New Orleans Hotel, August 27, 2008
    • Maritime Injury Damages
      Louisiana Trial Lawyers Association
      The Westin New Orleans Canal Place, May 9, 2008
    • Overview of Significant Maritime Decisions
      New Orleans Bar Association
      Procrastinator’s Program, December 28, 2007
    • Opening and Closing Statements
      New Orleans Bar Association
      Masters of the Courtroom, December 12, 2007
    • The Conclusive Maintenance and Cure Debate
      Louisiana Trial Lawyers Association, September 8, 2006
    • Maritime Death Remedies Revisited
      Alabama Trial Lawyers Association Annual Seminar
      Sandestin Beach Resort, Destin, FL, June 15-17, 2006
    • Maritime Death Remedies Revisited
      Alabama Trial Lawyers Association, Spring Seminar, Astor Crowne Plaza, New Orleans, LA, March 24, 2006
    • Trial Practice Demonstration of the Electronic Courtroom at Trial [presented by the American College of Trial Lawyers]
      20th Annual Federal Practice & Advocacy Seminar
      J. W. Marriott, New Orleans, LA, April 7-8, 2005
    • Choice of Court, Choice of Law, and Choice of Trier of Fact
      3rd Judge Alvin B. Rubin Conference on Maritime Personal Injury Law, March 4 and 5, 2005
    • Use Of Expert Witnesses In Admiralty Proceedings
      High Stakes on the High Seas, A Maritime Law Conference
      The Ritz Carlton New Orleans Hotel, New Orleans, LA, August 13, 2004
    • Recovery Against Employers And Third Parties
      21st New Orleans Maritime Seminar (Tulane)
      Wyndham Canal Place Hotel, New Orleans, LA, October 2-3, 2003
    • Medical Examinations 2003
      G.N.O.B.F.A. Seminar New Orleans, Louisiana, September 11, 2003
    • Choice of Law/Choice of Forum
      LTLA Maritime Conference, August 15, 2003
    • 20th New Orleans Fall Maritime Law Seminar
      Tulane Fall Maritime Seminar
      New Orleans, LA, October 17, 2002
    • Use Of Expert Witnesses in Admiralty Proceedings
      Journal of Maritime Law and Commerce
      Admiralty Symposium, Rhode Island, August 15-16, 2002
    • 20th New Orleans Fall Maritime Law Seminar Hypothetical
      Tulane Fall Seminar — CANCELLED DUE TO 9-11
      Sheraton Hotel New Orleans, LA, September 13-14, 2001
    • Application of State Law in Maritime Cases
      LTLA Maritime CLE
      Wyndham River Front New Orleans, LA, August 17, 2001
    • 33 U.S.C. Section 905(b): Problems for the Plaintiff
      2001 ATLA Winter Convention, New Orleans, LA, February 10-14, 2001
    • 2000 Last Chance – Review of Louisiana Law Effects of Amendments to Louisiana Civil Code Articles 2323 and 2324
      Louisiana State Bar Association, December 13-14, 2000
    • Maritime Death Remedies Revisited
      Experience Boston Multi-Topic CLE Seminar
      Louisiana State Bar Association, October 14-16, 2000, Boston, Massachusetts
    • Recent Developments in Maritime Law
      Tulane Fall Maritime Seminar, September 15, 2000
    • Recent Developments in the U.S. Supreme Court Fifth, Ninth and Eleventh Circuits
      Nineteenth New Orleans Maritime Seminar, January 2000
      Tulane Law School, Le Meridien Hotel
    • Expert Testimony in Maritime Cases
      ATLA Annual Convention, Admiralty Section, July 17-21, 1999, San Francisco, California
    • Handling Maintenance and Cure Claims After Guevara v. Maritime Overseas Corp.
      Admiralty Law Seminar
      March 12-13, 1999, Louisiana, Texas, Mississippi and Florida Trial Lawyer Associations, Point Clear, Alabama
    • A Maritime Personal Injury Lawyer Looks at Sexual Misconduct in the Workplace
      Seventeenth New Orleans Maritime Seminar, January 1998
      Tulane Law School, Royal Sonesta Hotel
    • Discussion of Select Maritime Cases
      Sixteenth New Orleans Maritime Seminar, January 1997
      Tulane Law School, Royal Sonesta Hotel
    • Select Updates in Maritime Law
      LTLA Last Chance Seminar, December 1996, Westin Canal Place
    • Seamen and Maritime Employees Maintenance and Cure and Wage Payments Casino Boat/Cruise Vessel Issues Foreign Seamen Clause
      Fifteenth New Orleans Maritime Seminar, January 1996, Tulane Law School
      Royal Sonesta Hotel
    • Impact of New Legal Decisions and Legislation on the Marine Operator and Insurer
      Fourteenth New Orleans Maritime Seminar, January 1995
      Tulane Law School, Royal Sonesta Hotel
  • Professional Acknowledgements

    • America’s Top 100 High Stakes Litigators 2017-2019
    • New Orleans Bar Association Maritime Lawyer of the Year Award 2017
    • Louisiana Super Lawyers, 2012-2023
    • Elite American Lawyers, 2016
    • Louisiana Association of Justice President’s Award, 2010-2011
    • U.S. News & World Report, Best Law Firms, 2014-2023
    • U.S. News & World Report, Best Lawyers in America, 2021
    • U.S. News & World Report, Admiralty and Maritime Lawyer of the Year New Orleans, 2021
    • Louisiana Top Attorneys – Super Lawyers, 2012-2023
    • Top 10 Lawyers in New Orleans – Super Lawyers, 2023
    • Louisiana Life Magazine – Top Attorneys in Louisiana, 2013-2023
    • St. Charles Avenue Magazine – Top Attorneys in New Orleans, 2013-2023
    • AAJ Certificate of Recognition Award, 2020